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UNITED STATES PATENT @EE-ICE.

CHARLES C. HODGES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DETROIT LUBRIOATOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LUBRICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,768, dated April 101883.

Application filed December 27, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatLGHARLEs C. HoDGEs, of

Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lubricators; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in the combinations of devices and appliances hereinafter specified, and more particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is also a vertical section of the same at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view through the oiland steam conduit on the line .r of Fig. 1, the oil-reservoir being in section and broken away.

Hitherto in the use of sight feed-lubricators difficulty has been experienced from the liability of the sight feed-glass to break. When used on locomotives especially the breaking of the sight feed glass is lapt to occasion much inconvenience, for, since the oil has to necessarily pass through said glass to the parts to be lubricated, the breaking of the glass renders the lubricator inoperative until said glass can be replaced.

It is the object of my invention to provide means in a sight feed lubricator whereby, should said glass break, the lubricator may not becomeinoperativein consequence thereof, but may be made to continue the work of supplyin g the desired quantity of oil to the parts to be lubricated, notwithstanding such breakage, and until it is convenient to replace the sight feed-glass.

In carrying out my invention A is the reservoir, and B the condensingchamber connected therewith, said-reservoir provided with a suitable drain-valve. bis the filler. C is a pipe leading from the condensing-chamber to the bottom of the reservoir, and adapted to convey condensed water from said chamber to .the bottom of the reservoir, said pipe provided with .a controlling-valve, c. D is the sight feed-glass, having top and bot- 5S said top and bottom connections, adapted to ,control the passage of oil through said glass.

F is the oil and steam conduit leading from the top connection, d', to the parts to be lubricated. f is the oil-exit conduit communicating with the sight feedglass. F is the steampassage leading to the condensing chamber. G is a gage-glass connected with thereservoir A, for determining the height of the oil in the reservoir, and provided with suitable valves, g and g. These are ordinary parts in sight ieed-lubricators.

My invention consists more particularly in providing the top'connection, d', of the sight feed-glass with an additional oil-conduit, H, 7o leading from the upper portion of the reservoir A and communicating with the passage f, the amount of oil discharged thereby being controlled by an additional valve, d4.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the sight feed-glass is in working order the valves d2 and d3 are open and the valve d* closed. In this condition the oil floated to the top of the reservoir A feeds, as usual, down through the tube E and up through the water in the sight-feed glass D in visible drops to the oil-passage f; but should the sight feed-glass break, by closing the valves d2 and d3 and opening the valve d4 the oil discharges from the reservoir A through the pipe H into the passage j', the only inconvenience experienced being that the feed of the oil is not meanwhile visible. When the glass is restored, by closing the valve d4 and opening the valves d2 and d3 the oil feeds through the tube E and the sight feed-glass, as before.

.It is evident that lubricators of this class as thus constructed are adapted for continuous operation.

Lubricators have heretofore been so con- 95 structedthatoilcould be directed either through a glass tube to theparts to be lubricated orl be directed to such parts without passing through the glass tube. Such construction, of course, provides for the operation of the lubricator roo even if the glass tube becomes broken, and I do not therefore broadly claim a lubricator which will be operative even if the glass tube becomes broken.

What I claim is- 1. In a lubricator, a glass tube or chamber through which the oil passes in visible drops, valves located at the entrance and exit of said tubeforcutting od' the flow therethrough, and a separate oil-conduit connecting the reservoir with the oil-exit at a point beyond said transparent chamber, and a valve for opening and closing said passage, the construction being such that the lubricator may be operated independently of said visible feed and the latter be cut oft at will, substantially as described.

2. In a lubricator in which oil is driven off or displaced by condense-Water or a watercolumn acting in the reservoir, a transparent chamber with cut off valves at its entrance and exit, through which the oil is fed in visible quantities, an oil-conduit leading from near the top of said reservoir to the entrance of said transparent chamber, and in connection therewith another oil conduit with a cut-011' valve leading from near the top of' the reservoir to a point in theoil-ext beyond the trans parent chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofIsign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. HODGES. Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, A. E. INGLIS. 

